Daniel Weir: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Mary 1

Daniel Weir

“Mary 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Daniel Weir: Collected Lyrics Text 3 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

How dear to think on former days,

And former scenes I've wander'd o'er;

They well deserve a poet's praise,

In lofty rhyme they ought to soar.

How oft I've wander'd by the Clyde,

When night obscured the landscape near,

To hear its murm'ring waters glide,

And think upon my Mary dear.

And when the moon shot forth her light,

Sweet glimm'ring through the distant trees,

How sweet to pass the peaceful night,

And breathe, serene, the passing breeze.

Though grand these scenes of peace and joy,

'Tis not for them I'd drop the tear;

Remembrance will my heart annoy,

When thinking on my Mary dear.

Far from my friends, far from my home,

I wander on a distant shore;

Far from those scenes I used to roam,

And scenes perhaps I'll tread no more.

My fancy still beholds the Clyde,

Her scenes of grandeur now appear;

What power can e'er my thoughts divide,

From Clyde's fair banks and Mary dear.

No power on earth can change my heart,

Or tear these scenes from out my mind,

And when this world and I shall part,

For them I'll cast a look behind.

Swift fly the time until we meet;

Swift fly away each day and year,

Until my early friends I greet,

And kiss again my Mary dear.

Credits

Written by Daniel Weir

Words by Daniel Weir. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Mary 1”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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